Snipper and James

The parties to this proceeding were the husband and the wife, with the court being the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, presided over by Watts J. The dispute concerned parenting orders relating to the children of the marriage.

The court was required to determine the specific arrangements for the children's time with the husband, including the frequency and duration of contact, and to establish conditions and safeguards for that contact. Additionally, the court needed to address the wife's obligation to facilitate psychological assessments for the children.

Watts J made orders suspending previous parenting orders inconsistent with the new arrangements, while allowing certain prior orders to continue. The court stipulated that the children would spend time with the husband on alternate Sundays, with specific provisions for long weekends and school holidays. Crucially, all such time was to be supervised by the husband's partner, Ms T, or the paternal grandmother. These supervisors were required to provide written undertakings to the court, agreeing to be present during all contact, to intervene and request the husband cease questioning the children about their activities or feelings towards either parent, and to prevent the husband from engaging in verbally aggressive behaviour or physical discipline. They were also obligated to contact the mother and advise her to collect the children if the husband failed to comply with these requests. The wife was also ordered to facilitate regular psychological appointments for each child.